The IPL 2026 auction is coming up fast on December 16, and you can feel the energy as domestic players fight to stand out. On Monday in Lahli, a young spinner from Services didn’t just catch a few eyes, he stole the show. Amit Shukla, just 22, bowled the kind of spell that makes people sit up and take notice. He grabbed eight wickets in an innings, a performance that's now the best ever by a Services bowler in Ranji Trophy history.
A Spell That Changed the Match
Let’s talk about that spell for a second. Shukla finished with 8 for 27, and his control was unreal. 5 wickets in a row, not a single run given up, he bowled five straight maidens to complete his five-for. Lahli usually helps the bowlers, sure, but this was all about Shukla’s skill and relentless pressure.
---Advertisement---
Haryana Collapse Under Pressure
Haryana just couldn’t handle it. Chasing Services’ first-innings score of 205, they fell apart, slumping to 16 for 5. Shukla’s sharp turn and accuracy left them nowhere to hide. He came back the next day, picked up three more, and Haryana folded for just 111. That gave Services a 94-run lead. Pulkit Narang chipped in with the last two wickets, but this was Shukla’s match from start to finish.
---Advertisement---
Joining an Elite List
This performance puts Shukla in pretty elite company. Only five Services bowlers G. Inder Dev, G.S. Shaktawat, S.K. Porel, V.M. Muddiah, and Iqbal Karan had ever taken eight wickets in an innings in the Ranji Trophy. Now Shukla joins them, and his numbers top them all. Inder Dev pulled off the feat twice, but after this, you have to think Shukla’s the next big thing out of the Services lineup.
Perfect Timing Ahead of IPL 2026 Auction
And talk about timing. With IPL teams hunting for the next breakout Indian bowler, Shukla’s big day couldn’t have come at a better moment. Spells like this do more than win matches; they get scouts talking, change conversations, and sometimes change lives. If Shukla keeps bowling like this, he won’t just be a Ranji star, he’ll soon be one of the IPL’s hottest properties.
Also Read: THIS batter returns as Rajasthan Royals Head Coach ahead of IPL 2026, name is….